Created and reviewed for accuracy by researchers at the Universal Life Church Ministries

Alabama Outline

Congratulations! If you've found yourself at this page it is likely that you are either planning to be married or have been asked to perform a wedding ceremony in Alabama. Ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in Alabama. The information provided below will walk you through the steps one must follow to become a minister and perform a valid wedding ceremony in the state of Alabama.

Quick Facts
  • ULC Ordination Accepted: Yes
  • Minister Registration Required: No
  • Minister's Residency: Irrelevant
  • Minister's Minimum Age: 18
  •  
  • Marriage License Waiting Period: 0 Days
  • Marriage License Valid For: 30 Days
  • Marriage License Return Within: By Expiration
Regional Information

For more specific information about performing a wedding in certain parts of Alabama, choose a location below. If your area isn't listed, don't worry - just continue scrolling to review the helpful general information on this page.

1 How to Become an Ordained Minister in Alabama

If you haven't already, you should get ordained online with the Universal Life Church. Ordination is free and can be completed in just a matter of minutes. Thousands of legally valid marriages are performed by ULC ministers around the world every year. Begin the process by clicking the big blue button below!

2 Officiating a Wedding in Alabama

Next, you should contact the office of your local marriage authority (typically your county clerk). Let them know that you are a minister of the Universal Life Church in Seattle, and ask what they will require of you to officiate a legal marriage.

Select your Probate Judge to quickly generate the contact information for your local marriage authority.



Select a probate judge contact

3 Alabama Officiant Requirements

After you've contacted your marriage authority, you should visit our online store to purchase whatever documentation will be required. We typically advise ministers in Alabama to get an Ordination Package. Although minister registration is not required in Alabama you may be asked to display proof of your ordination to the county clerks before they will accept the marriage as having been legally solemnized. Having this proof of your ordination can also provide a great deal of peace-of-mind to any couple that you intend to marry. Additionally, please attempt to leave at least 3 weeks between the date of the wedding ceremony and your order, to ensure that you receive all of your materials in advance.

4 How to get Married in Alabama

Alabama's Top Wedding Spot

Alabama's Top Wedding Spot

Gulf of Mexico at one of the stilted beach homes in Fort Morgan, Orange Beach

Now that you've done all of the above, you are ready to perform the wedding! Be sure that the couple has picked up their Alabama marriage license from the appropriate office. This license is valid for 30 days, and there is no mandatory waiting period between when the couple receives the marriage license in Alabama and when the ceremony may be legally performed. Please be aware that the signed license must be returned to the issuing office before its expiry.

At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in Alabama, after they've received their license to marry by getting ordained online, asking for guidance on how to perform a wedding ceremony. Once the legal matters have been taken care of, officiating a wedding (while a sometimes-daunting task) can be a great deal of fun. We would suggest that new Alabama wedding ministers concerned about the ceremony peruse one of our helpful wedding guides. The minister training section of our website should offer a helpful refresher for more experienced ministers.

5 Wedding Planning in Alabama

If you’ve been asked to perform a wedding in Alabama, there are a few things that are good to keep in mind. First off, unlike in many other states, spring is the most popular time of year for couples to tie the knot in Alabama – 33 percent of all weddings take place between March and May. This means high-demand locales may be booked out far in advance, and couples will be clamoring for officiants during the spring season. If the ceremony will take place at an outdoor wedding location, such as a barn wedding venue, make sure you check the forecast and choose an outfit appropriate for the elements. Outdoor summer weddings are known to be scorching, while springtime can bring with it unexpected downpours. Finally, people often wonder how much a wedding minister should charge in Alabama. The truth is, there’s no simple answer – fees can vary widely based on experience level, amount of involvement, and other responsibilities the couple might need covered. Costs can also vary geographically – in larger cities like Birmingham and Montgomery, for example, you might expect to see slightly higher average fees than you would in less-populated areas of the state.


Alabama Marriage Code

Alabama Flag

Alabama Marriage Code

Marriage in Alabama is governed by Chapter 1 of Title 30 of Alabama's Statutes. Ministers who got ordained online with the Universal Life Church have successfully solemnized thousands of weddings in the state. Below, you will find that we have reproduced a relevant excerpt of this code.

Alabama Code - Section 30-1-7: PERSONS AUTHORIZED TO SOLEMNIZE MARRIAGES (a) Generally. Marriages may be solemnized by any licensed minister of the gospel in regular communion with the Christian church or society of which the minister is a member; by an active or retired judge of the Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals, Court of Civil Appeals, any circuit court, or any district court within this state; by a judge of any federal court; or by an active or retired judge of probate. View the Alabama Statutes on the official state site.

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Learn All About Marriage Law in Alabama

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Autauga County

176 W 5th St
Prattville, Alabama
36067

Phone: (334) 361-3728
Autauga County website »

Baldwin County

220 Courthouse Sq
Bay Minette, Alabama
36507

Phone: (251) 937-0260
Baldwin County website »

Barbour County

303 East Broad Street
Eufaula, Alabama

Phone: (334) 687-1500
Barbour County website »

Bibb County

8 Court Square West, Suite A
Centreville, Alabama
35042

Phone: (205) 926-3108
Bibb County website »

Blount County

220 2nd Ave E. Room 101
Oneonta, Alabama
35121

Phone: (205) 625-4191
Blount County website »

Bullock County

217 Prairie St N, Room 103
Union Springs, Alabama
36089

Phone: (334) 738-2250
Bullock County website »

Butler County

700 Court Square
Greenville, Alabama
36037

Phone: (334) 382-3221
Fax: (334) 382-0385
Butler County website »

Calhoun County

1702 Noble Street, Suite 102
Anniston, Alabama
36201

Phone: (256) 241-2825
Fax: (256) 231-1728
Calhoun County website »

Chambers County

2 South LaFayette Street
LaFayette, Alabama
36862

Phone: (334) 864-4380
Chambers County website »

Cherokee County

260 Cedar Bluff Road, Suite 101
Centre, Alabama

Phone: (256) 927-3363
Fax: (256) 927-3363
Cherokee County website »

Chilton County

500 2nd Ave N
Clanton, Alabama

Phone: (205) 755-1555
Chilton County website »

Choctaw County

117 S Mullberry Street Room 10
Butler, Alabama

Phone: (334) 613-5300
Fax: (334) 240-3097
Choctaw County website »

Clarke County

114 Court Street
Grove Hill, Alabama
36451

Phone: (251) 275-3251
Fax: (251) 275-8427
Clarke County website »

Clay County

25 Court Square
Ashland, Alabama

Phone: (256) 354-2198
Fax: (256) 354-4778
Clay County website »

Cleburne County

120 Vickery Street, Ste. 101
Heflin, Alabama
36264

Phone: (256) 463-5655
Fax: (256) 463-1044
Cleburne County website »

Coffee County

230-P North Court Street
Enterprise, Alabama
36330

Phone: (334) 347-2688
Coffee County website »

Colbert County

201 North Main Street
Tuscumbia, Alabama
35674

Phone: (256) 314-5820
Fax: (256) 386-8547
Colbert County website »

Conecuh County

111 Court Street
Evergreen, Alabama

Phone: (251) 578-1221
Fax: (251) 578-7034
Conecuh County website »

Coosa County

9709 US Highway 231
Rockford, Alabama

Phone: (256) 377-4919
Coosa County website »

Covington County

1K N. Court Square
Andalusia, Alabama
36420

Phone: (334) 428-2520
Fax: (334) 428-2531
Covington County website »

Crenshaw County

29 South Glenwood Avenue
Luverne, Alabama
36049

Phone: (334) 335-4749
Crenshaw County website »

Cullman County

500 2nd Avenue S.W.
Cullman, Alabama
35056

Phone: (256) 775-4665
Cullman County website »

Dale County

1 Court Sq # 1
Ozark, Alabama

Phone: (334) 774-2754
Dale County website »

Dallas County

105 Lauderdale Street P.O. Box 987
Selma, Alabama

Phone: (334) 874-2516
Dallas County website »

DeKalb County

300 Grand Avenue S.W., Suite 100
Fort Payne, Alabama
35967

Phone: (256) 845-8510
DeKalb County website »

Elmore County

100 E. Commerce Street, Suite 100
Wetumpka, Alabama
36092

Phone: (334) 567-1140 Ext. 5084
Elmore County website »

Escambia County

314 Belleville Ave
Brewton, Alabama
36427

Phone: (251) 867-0301
Escambia County website »

Etowah County

800 Forrest Ave, Suite 122
Gadsden, Alabama
35901

Phone: (256) 549-5340
Fax: (256) 549-1149
Etowah County website »

Fayette County

113 N. Temple Ave.
Fayette, Alabama
35555

Phone: (205) 932-4591
Fayette County website »

Franklin County

405 North Jackson Avenue
Russellville, Alabama

Phone: (256) 332-8801
Franklin County website »

Geneva County

200 N Commerce St
Geneva, Alabama
36340

Phone: (334) 684-5640
Geneva County website »

Greene County

400 Morrow Avenue
Eutaw, Alabama

Phone: (205) 372-3340
Greene County website »

Hale County

1001 Main Street
Greensboro, Alabama
36744

Phone: (334) 624-8740
Hale County website »

Henry County

101 Courtsquare, Suite J
Abbeville, Alabama
36310

Phone: (334) 585-2753
Henry County website »

Houston County

462 N. Oates Street
Dothan, Alabama

Phone: (334) 677-4792
Houston County website »

Jackson County

102 E Laurel St, Room 307
Scottsboro, Alabama
35768

Phone: (256) 574-9290
Jackson County website »

Jefferson County

1801 3rd Avenue North
Bessemer, Alabama

Phone: (205) 481-4100
Jefferson County website »

Lamar County

44680 Pond St.
Vernon, Alabama

Phone: (205) 695-9119
Lamar County website »

Lauderdale County

200 South Court Street
Florence, Alabama
35630

Phone: (256) 760-5804
Lauderdale County website »

Lawrence County

14451 Market St, Suite 130
Moulton, Alabama
35650

Phone: (256) 974-2439
Lawrence County website »

Lee County

215 South 9th Street
Opelika, Alabama
36801

Phone: (334) 737-3670
Lee County website »

Limestone County

100 South Clinton Street, Suite D
Athens, Alabama
35611

Phone: (256) 233-6427
Limestone County website »

Lowndes County

1 South Washington St.
Hayneville, Alabama
36040

Phone: (334) 548-2365
Lowndes County website »

Macon County

210 N. Elm Street, Courthouse Annex
Tuskegee, Alabama
36083

Phone: (334) 724-2603
Fax: (334) 724-2622
Macon County website »

Madison County

100 North Side Square, Room 101
Huntsville, Alabama
35801

Phone: (256) 532-3330
Madison County website »

Marengo County

101 E Coats Ave
Linden, Alabama

Phone: (334) 295-2210
Marengo County website »

Marion County

132 Military St. S, Room 204
Hamilton, Alabama
35570

Phone: (205) 921-2471
Marion County website »

Marshall County

425 Gunter Avenue, Suite 110
Guntersville, Alabama
35976

Phone: (256) 571-7764
Marshall County website »

Mobile County

151 Government St.
Mobile, Alabama
36602

Phone: (251) 574-6000
Mobile County website »

Monroe County

65 North Alabama Ave. Room 220
Monroeville, Alabama
36460

Phone: (251) 743-2283
Monroe County website »

Montgomery County

101 S. Lawrence Street, 2nd Floor
Montgomery, Alabama
36104

Phone: (334) 832-1235
Montgomery County website »

Morgan County

302 Lee Street
Decatur, Alabama
35601

Phone: (256) 351-4675
Morgan County website »

Perry County

Courthouse Square<br> 300 Washington St.
Marion, Alabama
36756

Phone: (334) 683-2200
Perry County website »

Pickens County

50 Courthouse Sq, Room 106
Carrollton, Alabama
35477

Phone: (205) 367-2010
Pickens County website »

Pike County

120 W. Church Street
Troy, Alabama

Phone: (334) 566-1246
Pike County website »

Randolph County

1 S. Main St.
Wedowee, Alabama
36278

Phone: (256) 357-4933
Randolph County website »

Russell County

1000 Broad Street
Phenix City, Alabama
36867

Phone: (334) 298-7979
Russell County website »

Shelby County

112 N. Main St.
Columbiana, Alabama
35051

Phone: (205) 669-3720
Shelby County website »

St. Clair County

165 5th Avenue
Ashville, Alabama
35953

Phone: (205) 594-2120
St. Clair County website »

Sumter County

115 Marshall Street
Livingston, Alabama
35470

Phone: (205) 652-7281
Sumter County website »

Talladega County

1 Court Square, First Floor
Talladega, Alabama
35160

Phone: (256) 362-4175
Talladega County website »

Tallapoosa County

125 North Broadnax Street
Dadeville, Alabama

Phone: (256) 825-4266
Tallapoosa County website »

Tuscaloosa County

714 Greensboro Avenue
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Phone: (205) 464-8200
Tuscaloosa County website »

Walker County

Courthouse Annex II <br>1900 Third Ave South
Jasper, Alabama
35501

Phone: (205) 384-7291
Walker County website »

Washington County

1 Court Street
Chatom, Alabama
35518

Phone: (251) 847-2201
Washington County website »

Wilcox County

100 Broad Street
Camden, Alabama

Phone: (334) 682-4883
Wilcox County website »

Winston County

25125 Hwy 195
Double Springs, Alabama
35553

Phone: (205) 489-5219
Winston County website »